Smart Buckle With Harness Tension and Occupancy Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child safety seat systems lack effective mechanisms to ensure proper harness tension and occupancy status, which can lead to injuries during accidents.
Innovation Solution
A smart child safety system that includes a buckle with integrated indicator lights to show the status of latch plate security and harness tension, along with a tension sensor to ensure proper harness adjustment and a seat occupancy sensor to monitor if the seat is occupied and if the occupant is seated correctly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If indicator lights are integrated into the buckle, then the visibility of harness security status is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (latch detection, tension sensing, indicator display) into a single integrated buckle assembly. The buckle housing contains both the latch plate reception mechanism and the indicator lights, eliminating the need for separate external indicators and reducing overall system complexity despite adding intelligence to the buckle.
Solution Approach 2:
The buckle system performs self-diagnosis and self-indication by automatically detecting latch status and tension levels through integrated sensors, then displaying this information through built-in indicator lights. This eliminates the need for separate monitoring devices or manual checking by users.
2Reliability
If tension sensor is added to monitor harness tension, then the safety monitoring capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buckle assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as a mechanical latch receiver, a tension sensor mounting point, and an indicator display unit. The tension sensor is integrated into the existing buckle structure rather than being a separate component, allowing the buckle to perform both mechanical and sensing functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the buckle as an intermediary component that mediates between the harness system and the monitoring functions. The tension sensor is mounted on the buckle, which itself is engaged with the latch plate, allowing the buckle to transmit both mechanical forces and sensing data without requiring direct integration with multiple separate systems.
3Measurement precision
If seat occupancy sensor is integrated into the seat, then the occupancy detection accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring system into separate functional modules: the occupancy sensor is integrated into the seat cushion, the buckle handles latch detection, and the indicator lights provide visual feedback. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system simplicity through modular design.
4Productivity
If multiple sensors and indicator lights are integrated into the buckle, then the real-time monitoring capability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (latch detection, tension sensing, indicator display) into a single integrated buckle assembly. The buckle housing contains both the latch plate reception mechanism and the indicator lights, eliminating the need for separate external indicators and reducing overall system complexity despite adding intelligence to the buckle.
Data Source
AI summary
A safety monitoring system for a child safety includes a harness, buckle, buckle sensor, and tension sensor. The buckle sensor monitors status of the buckle. A harness adjuster adjusts tension of the harness. The tension sensor monitors the tension to the harness. An output device is located on the buckle. The output device provides the status of the buckle and tension of the harness. The system can include several types of sensors that are independent of a vehicle or a seat assembly. In one form, the buckle includes a strain gauge, temperature sensor, microphone, camera, thermometer, accelerometer, and/or gyroscope. A microprocessor and/or a wireless transceiver are located inside the buckle. The wireless transceiver facilitates communication between the restraint system, the sensors, and/or a computational device such as a smartphone. Data from the sensors may be partially or fully processed by the microprocessor in the buckle or the external computational device.